Flamenco Quote of the Day

Suddenly a barefoot girl was dancing. No one saw her begin; they only saw her somehow appear in the middle of the dirt floor, surrounded by the mahogany faces of spellbound gypsies. She moved in a tortuous way, dancing in the superb manner that the moment demanded, moving only her hands and arms, completely lost in the trance of the charged flamenco atmosphere. The singer sang to her, the guitarist played for her, and she moved toward them, responding with pureness of dance and movement that had the effect of somehow exalting the crowd, while at the same time intensifying their desolation. They had reached the culmination, flamenco's perfect moment, when all of flamenco's components were combined in a rare purity of expression....we were all quiet a moment, completely entranced, a little ashamed of our raw emotions, and yet savouring the impact of the experience that we knew would rarely be repeated. Further performing was meaningless. 'Ya estaba todo dicho'. Everything had been said.

D.E. Pohren/Author

www.MatadoraFlamenca.com

Flamenco Quote of the Day

I knew a good man,
as reliable as a watch;
through the happenings of love,
he died in prison.

Conoci a un hombre de bien,
tan cabal como un reloj;
y por cosas del querer,
en un presidio murio.

Carceleras/Traditional

www.MatadoraFlamenca

Flamenco Quote of the Day

Within flamenco there is also spirituality in the slower, more profound styles like tarantos or granainas. Since flamenco has been given this stereotype of "fiery" or "fiesta" music, people aren't aware of the contemplative side. Flamenco reflects all emotions of life. Seguiriyas is the most pensive and sad song to come out of a people. The poet, Garcia Lorca, said it could be played, danced or sung in a church without profanation.

Juan Martin/Guitarrista

www.MatadoraFlamenca.com

Flamenco Quote of the Day

Nobleman on horseback
who does not even say hello,
if your horse should stumble,
you'll be singing a different
tune.

Señorito a caballo
que no da los buenos dias,
si el caballo tropezara
otro gallo cantaria.

Fandangos Grandes/Traditional

www.MatadoraFlamenca.com

Flamenco Quote of the Day

"To the majority of public not well versed in flamenco, the dancer is the show stopper, the scene stealer of flamenco. The popular public considers the dancer THE attraction, with the rest of the cuadro serving as noise-making satellites"..."Ironically, flamenco's greatest deficiency is its lack of good dancers. The number of bailaores that are capable of being profoundly moving can be counted on both hands, and many of them are nonprofessional unknowns."

D.E. Pohren/Author

www.MatadoraFlamenca.com

Flamenco Quote of the Day

"When I sing as I please, I taste blood in my mouth."

Tia Añica La Piriñaca/Cantaora


www.Matadoraflamenca.com

Flamenco Quote of the Day

Malagueña

Death
enters and leaves
the tavern.

Black horses
and sinister people
travel the deep roads
of the guitar.

And there’s a smell of salt
and of female blood
in the fevered tuberoses
of the shore.

Death
enters and leaves,
and leaves and enters
the tavern.

F. Garcia Lorca

www.Matadoraflamenca.com